23'CLOSE! Brazil weave their way in behind Japan in the form of Hulk, who fires in a low cross from the right that is almost turned into his own net by a desperate Japanese defender.

22'Neymar delivers a deep cross from the left that Eiji Kawashima fails to punch clear. Fortunately for the Japan stopper, his defence manages to mop up after him.

21'Neymar wins a corner for Brazil.

20'Honda fizzes in a low 20-yard shot that Cesar gathers at the second attempt.

19'Japan stroking the ball around nicely when in possession. You can't help but wonder about a cutting edge though, which has been an issue with their side down the years.

18'DID YOU KNOW? Scolari used Sun Tzu's Chinese military book 'The art of War' as part of his preparations for Brazil's 2002 World Cup triumph. Big Phil even went as far as to slip what he felt to be pertinent chapters under the hotel room door of some of his players.

17'A glimmer of light for Japan as they surge forward on the counter, but Thiago Silva reads it well and denies them a sniff of goal.

16'Neymar has been off the pitch receiving treatment but he's chomping at the bit to get back on. The crowd are screaming for it too.

15'STAT ALERT: Brazil are the most successful country in Confederations Cup history with three wins (2009, 2005 & 1997). Victory in 2013 would see them become the first nation to win three consecutive tournaments.

13'The last time the two teams met was last October when Brazil won 4-0 in a friendly in Poland. Neymar scored twice that day with Paulinho and Kaka also on target.

12'Another flowing Brazil move down the left picks out Hulk at the post. The striker looks to tee up a teammate but Japan manage to clear. Alves gathers the loose ball but smashes a wild shot into the stands.

11'STAT ALERT: The Blue Samurai have won only one of their last four matches in all competitions, prior to this they had won six of the previous seven.

10'Some silky approach play by Brazil ends with Dani Alves overhitting a pass after Japan had looked to have been opened up. Neymar is revelling in the atmosphere out there. He's looking worth every penny of the huge fee Barca paid for him at the moment.

9'The hectic pace continues as Honda arrives late at the far post to hook a right-wing cross well over the top on the volley.

8'This is Brazil's first competitive match in 23 months after they suffered a quarter-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Paraguay in the 2011 Copa America. (The Olympics don't count). This has seen them slip to 22nd in the current FIFA World rankings, their lowest ever. Japan are 32nd.

7'GOAL-LINE Technology: This will be the second time a FIFA tournament has used goal-line technology after it was brought in at the Club World Cup in Japan last December. German-based manufacturer GoalControl will be used in Brazil and will continue at the World Cup next year if all goes well.

6'Japan look to respond and Honda hammers in a bouncing 35-yarder that Julio Cesar just about beats to safety.

5'That was Neymar's 21st goal for his country.

4'Anyone wondering what all the fuss is about Neymar just got the perfect example of what Brazil's idol can do.

3'GOAL! Sensational finish by NEYMAR! The ball is chested into the 21-year-old's path by Fred 25 yards out and the new Barca man volleys a stunning shot into the top corner. What a start! Brazil 1-0 Japan.

3'Brazil have suffered just one competitive defeat on home turf - back in 1975 versus Peru. That offers some perspective to the task facing Japan tonight.

2'Tonight's referee is Pedro Proenca from Portugal.

1'KICK OFF! Brazil get the contest underway to HUGE roars.

19.55The players are out, the national anthems are underway and we are just minutes away from kick off. Stay tuned for all of the very best action, LIVE, right here.

19.52Sepp Blatter is delivering a pre-match speech alongside the president of Brazil.

19.50TOURNAMENT MAKE-UP: The competition takes place every four years and features the reigning champions of the six confederations that make up Fifa, with Spain travelling as representatives of European governing body Uefa. The final two places are taken by the World Cup holders, plus the next hosts, although with Spain the reigning world and European champions, Euro 2012 runners-up Italy have been invited as the eighth team.

19.48Japan have faced Brazil nine times, losing seven and drawing two. But what better occasion to secure that inaugural win over 'A Selecao' than tonight? It would certainly add credence to the belief that this is the best ever Japan team.

19.45Japan qualify for the competition as the 2011 Asian Cup winners. An extra-time goal by Tadanari Lee secured a 1-0 win over Australia in the final. They have appeared at four previous Confederations Cup tournaments, but have only gone beyond the group stage once, when they were finalists back in 2001.

19.40This tournament is seen very much as a dress rehearsal for next summer's World Cup finals. Brazil and Japan are the only sides to have qualified so far, with the Samba stars assuming their place courtesy of being host nation, while Japan are currently the only team to have booked their spot via the qualifiers.

19.35"We're aiming to win the Confederations Cup to show the world what we're capable of. As an individual, I'd like people to think of the name Nagatomo when they make a list of the best left-backs in the world." The ambitious words of Japan left-back Yuto Nagatomo coming into the tournament.

19.30Why not share your pre-match thoughts with us on Twitter? Who do you fancy to win the tournament? Who will emerge as the competition's key man? And can the host nation Brazil kick off their defence of the trophy with a win against Japan? Get tweeting!

19.25Mexico and Italy are the other teams in Group A and play their first match on Sunday at the Maracana. Group B comprises Tahiti, Nigeria, Spain and Uruguay and also gets underway tomorrow with a mouthwatering clash between the World Champions and the Copa America winners.

19.20Japan coach, Alberto Zaccheroni believes Brazil's woes will be incidental as they aim to secure the title for a record fourth time. He said: "They have won this tournaments the past two times and are at home so they are favourites. We are here to make the most of this chance. I hope we can play to our strengths and impose ourselves on the match by taking the initiative. We respect our opponents but no team will enter the match with an advantage over the other."

19.15Scolari has brushed aside criticism of his side's form since he returned to the helm in November - 10 years after masterminding their World Cup success in Japan/South Korea. He told reporters: "Of course there is pressure on Brazil but that is because we are always regarded as one of the big teams and are expected to challenge for the title. Playing in our own country is no different. Yes we had some problems leading up to the tournament but in the last few weeks we have largely overcome them."

19.08As expected, Brazil are unchanged from Sunday's 3-0 friendly win over France with Oscar, Fred, Hulk and the pin-up boy, Neymar leading the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Meanwhile Japan are likely to deploy the same formation with Manchester United playmaker, Shinji Kagawa pulling the strings along with Keisuke Honda. VFB Stuttgart's Shinji Okazaki will lead the line.

18.58Ahead of the match, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has spoken of the need for Barcelona's new 57 million euro recruit, Neymar to be more of a team player. He also revealed he would look to field the same starting XI that beat France 3-0 on Sunday.

Brazil manager Luis Felipe Scolari believes Neymar still has to learn how to be a team player.

18.55Good evening and welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the opening match of the Confederations Cup between host nation Brazil and the 2011 Asian Cup winners, Japan at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia.

Summary

90'+3GOAL! 3-0 to Brazil. Jo races onto a superb pass from Oscar to net his first goal for his country.

48'GOAL! 2-0 to Brazil. Paulinho sweeps home on the turn after Alves whipped a low ball into the area from the right.

45'+1Makoto Hasebe booked for a cynical foul on Neymar.

42'HUGE CHANCE! Brazil should be two up. A quick break by the home team ends with Hulk getting a free sight of goal but his low shot is well kept out by the right palm of Kawashima.

40'CLOSE! Hulk drives in from the right and crashes a powerful effort into the near post side netting.

23'CLOSE! Brazil weave their way in behind Japan in the form of Hulk, who fires in a low cross from the right that is almost turned into his own net by a desperate Japanese defender.

20'Honda fizzes in a low 20-yard shot that Cesar gathers at the second attempt.

6'Japan look to respond and Honda hammers in a bouncing 35-yarder that Julio Cesar just about beats to safety.

3'GOAL! Sensational finish by NEYMAR! The ball is chested into the 21-year-old's path by Fred 25 yards out and the new Barca man volleys a stunning shot into the top corner. What a start! Brazil 1-0 Japan.